ratman

i have a 1979 cig 35ft mistress on a steel trailer probably 10500 or 11k lbs. im looking at a 1990 chevy 3500 crew cab pick up with a 6.2l non turbo deisel engine and a th400 3 speed automatic trans. was wondering how well the 6.2 will pull it out if i dip it and whether it will pull my rig 75 or 80 mph on the highway with out straining. thx for any feedback. ratman

OldSchool

I'm not positive, but that is probably a converted gas engine. They went over like a fart in church.

I had an '84 Eldorado that had a diesel from the factory that GM took out and replaced with an Olds 350 for free!!!!

RollWithIt

Ok. A 3500 with diesel and a three speed tranny. You would be lucky if that thing could hit 75 going downhill with the boat on trailer while being pushed from behind. I am sure its geared with either .373 or .410 gears. That engine would detonate at those speeds.

Crazyhorse

The 6.2 is not the "converted gas engine". That was the old 5.7, which was loosely based on the Olds 350 gas motor.The 6.2 and the later 6.5 TD are interchangeable with each other. In fact, the turbocharger/exhaust manifold setup from a 6.5 TD is a direct bolt-on for a 6.2 diesel.
Yeah, hammer down with that 6.2, good buddy! Run it like you stole it!

jordy

Wouldn't be my first choice, but as was pointed out the 6.2 and 6.5 are relatively interchangable in the parts department. Other than that, Banks makes/made an aftermarket turbo kit that would really wake them up. After that, either a tranny swap or something along the lines of a Gear Vendors O/D would be in order.

I had a 6.5 turbo for years and years and ran the wheels off of it. While it wasn't the fastest thing up the hill, it was reliable and ran good. I sold it with 245K miles on it to get my Duramax.

The nice thing about the 6.2's is you could actually work on them if you wanted to. All mechanical injection. Pretty simple and straight forward. If the price is right and you're not planning on hauling coast to coast, I'd say go for it.

Crazyhorse

The 1992 and 1993 6.5 TD engines are mechanical injection as well. 1994 was the first year for the electronic controller.
My 1993 was a good old truck and I pulled the 38 Cigarette with it for two years. I sold that truck about 3 weeks ago with 227,000 miles on it, with the original pump and injectors. Yeah, it was sluggish, but I don't run hard.
The next truck will be a Powerstroke Ford, mainly because the 1999 and 2000 2WD duallies are really affordable

ratman

craczyhorse how fast did you pull your 38 on the highway?

ratman

i pulled my boat home from little rock ark witha 1990 chevy g20 van with a 350 tbi and 700r4 that i never shifted out of third gear during the 1200 mi death ride home to tampa. i dont wanna spend big jack on a tow mule right now so i think i'll go for this 90 3500 i think it will get the job done. its not a dually tho do you think it do ok with out duals?

Crazyhorse

I could roll down the road at 70+ in the flats pulling my boat. I pulled my brother-in-law's 38 Powerquest a couple times and I could run 75-80 without any trouble, but that boat is probably 10,500 on the trailer.
If you can afford it I'd suggest you look for a 1993 Chevy or GMC 6.5 TD. They're pretty reasonably priced.
One thing about the 6.2 diesels,,,,,,,they have a nasty habit of breaking the crank. It's real common on them.

articfriends

iTrader: (1)

If you buy anything 91 gm diesel and newer with the 6.5 it will have the 4l80e overdrive which is basically a real heavy duty turbo-400 with OVERDRIVE!The drivability will be much better,i'd look a little more,Smitty